A few weeks ago, I was working through an issue in an Ogden City Council work session and I used an analogy that, at the time, seemed to fit the housing perfect storm. As a young(er) kid, I loved playing Tetris. It’s a fairly simple game compared to what the kids play today; mentally, you have to line up the different squares and shapes as they drop into place. The better you did, the faster the game would go. If you didn’t think ahead, you would end up with nonaligned shapes falling, and the game would end.

In the space of community and economic development, being able to plan and construct attainable housing resembles a game of Tetris — aligning numerous odd-shaped and different-valued pieces to fit seamlessly together. And just like the game, the challenges of zoning, the availability of land, property taxes, property values, services, infrastructure, community development, planning and access to opportunities represent the blocks needed to navigate and create attainable housing now and into the future.

Although many feel that if we only correct one of the challenges facing us, it will help create a plethora of new attainable housing options, there is a need to address all of the issues in order to twist and turn the blocks into place and at least have a chance at winning the game. Unfortunately, like the Tetris game, putting one of the pieces in place doesn’t mean the other pieces will fall perfectly into a game-winning alignment.

Zoning regulations act as the guiding framework for cities. These regulations dictate where, what types and how structures can be built, impacting the allocation of land that can be used for housing and land that can be used for other purposes. Zoning is similar to the defined shapes and patterns of the blocks falling in Tetris. Zoning sets the parameters for where and what types of housing fit into a specific designated area. Last year, Ogden City Council funded a new general plan study and a citywide zoning plan study to help update our zoning regulations and address the need for all types of housing options. We will work on this over the next few years. In addition, the council’s strategic plan, the Make Ogden plan, and the Quality Neighborhoods Initiative will all be the foundational work of the upcoming general plan.

Acquiring suitable land for affordable housing mirrors the maneuvering of the odd-shaped Tetris pieces into place to find their right spot. The scarcity of available land in a city already built out poses significant hurdles. Ogden City must focus on redeveloping existing land-use patterns and using creative solutions to help fit the pieces together effectively.

Property taxes are like the scoring structure in Tetris. High property taxes can inflate construction costs and, ultimately, impact the developer’s “want” to build and the “need” for residents to buy or rent. A good balance between residential and commercial property remains vital because of the tax collection structure between the two types. The overall need for Ogden City to balance the tax structures becomes crucial to ensure affordable housing; high-quality, sustainable housing initiatives; and the need to continue the essential services the residents receive.

Like the ever-shifting landscape in the game of Tetris, property values also add to the challenges of creating and finding attainable housing. Market forces play an important role in this landscape. As the city works to renovate buildings such as the library or the addition of a new recreation center, integrating these projects without disrupting the existing neighborhood area becomes difficult. This emphasizes the need to plan and navigate these fluctuations strategically.

Building attainable housing is similar to mastering the complexities of playing Tetris. It requires planning, skill, strategy and adaptability. Ogden City is working to overcome the zoning barriers, optimize land (re)use, manage property taxes to maintain and attract new growth, and understand property values, which is essential in addressing the need for attainable and sustainable housing. Like the pieces of the Tetris game, Ogden City can skillfully maneuver these elements to achieve a positive alignment. It is possible to create and be the city of choice where attainable housing fits seamlessly into the community landscape, making Ogden a choice for all.

Marcia White is an Ogden City Council member.

Newsletter